Mixed Feelings On Merger Proposal

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31139, 16 August 1966, Page 5

Mixed Feelings On Merger Proposal

Mixed feelings were revealed when county chairmen were asked for news of developments on a proposal for a five-year amalgamation of Heathcote, Halswell, Akaroa, Wairewa and Mount Herbert counties.

At an informal meeting with members of the National Roads Board during the board’s visit to Christchurch at the end of May, representatives of the five counties were asked, unofficially, to ask the Local Government Commission for an investigation and report on the five-way merger. Heathcote was appointed to act for the five, and replies have now been received from four of the councils. Heathcote's chairman (Mr C. D. Le Comte) said yesterday that he would put the council’s views before the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Seath). Wairewa county has not asked for the commission report. Its chairman (Mr W. C. Miller) said he had not agreed to this at the meeting with the roads board. “But,” said Mr Miller, “1 made it clear that we had no objection to the proposal, and that we would be prepared to give consideration to any report from the commission. “I also made it clear that Wairewa approached the issue with some diffidence, as we recently turned down by poll a proposal to amalgamate with Akaroa. However, we feel there is no harm in looking at any new proposals.” Mr Le Comte said that as agreed, he would put the councils’ views to the Minister; but he still felt that his council would be more interested in pursuing the original scheme for the amalgamation of Heathcote, Halswell and Mount Herbert.

He said he felt that it was essentia] that the roads board should grant special help to equalise roading in the three counties. However, just before the councils met the roads board, it had told Heathcote. Halswell and Mount Herbert that it had decided not to proceed with an accelerated roading programme for the three counties “as little would be gained in roading administration and a much better reorganisation could be made.” Baisweil's chairman (Mr J. Y. Pethig) said he felt the five-county merger would not be to Halswell’s advantage. It was “going a little far out,” as Halswell had no community of interest with Akaroa or Wairewa. If Halswell really had to amalgamate, it would prefer to join Heathcote or Paparua. “As far as the proposal to amalgamate Halswell, Heathcote and Mount Herbert is concerned, we were only casually interested in the first place,” said Mr Pethig. “It could have helped Mount Herbert, and it could have resulted in extra roads board money for the three counties. “I feel that a substantial grant is needed to help Mount Herbert. Otherwise, the county could be a liability that would reflect back on Halswell ratepayers.” Mount Herbert has tried for three years to find a place with which to amalgamate; but its hopes to merge with Heathcote have been delayed in various ways, mainly by the introduction of various alternative amalgamation proposals involving the other counties. Its chairman (Mr J. H. Mathias) was not available for comment. In the meantime, his council has been granted roads board money at a rate equivalent to £5 for £1 on its current roading programme, compared with normal subsidy of 15s for every £1 spent.